"We're taught, 'Just go to church and pray about it. The Lord is going to heal you.' Well, in the meantime, I believe God-gifted people, physicians, doctors, therapists — that's your healing. Take advantage of it," she said. "Go see a professional so that they can assess you. It's OK if you're going through something. Depression is not OK, but it is OK to go get help."

The singer, who's currently starring in a national tour of the Broadway musical Fela! and is set to release a collection of love songs with former Destiny's Child members Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland, said her depression began when she was 15 or 16 and she hasn't taken medication to treat it. She added, "I had to choose to get out of bed and do whatever I needed to do to be happy."

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